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Brussels Beer Challenge Winners 2020

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Yesterday, the winners of the 9th annual Brussels Beer Challenge were announced. Exactly 1,546 beers from 36 countries were judged in 8 broad styles (Pale Ale, Dark Ale, Red Ale, Pils, Stout/Porter, White, Flavoured Beers, and Specialty Beers) and then further subdivided into 80 smaller categories (lambic, abbey, chocolate beers, etc.). In a normal year, I would have been there for the judging, but with Covid restrictions, the EU was not permitting Americans to fly to Europe. I had hoped to post this yesterday, but it took me this long to go through and reformat the winners into a list. Congratulations to all the winners!

Belgium won the most medals, with the United States coming in second. Here are the top medal winners, by country.

Medals Won by Country:

  1. Belgium = 79
  2. United States = 31
  3. Italy = 30
  4. Netherlands = 23
  5. Brazil = 16
  6. France = 13
  7. Canada = 10
  8. TIE: China = 9 / Germany = 9
  9. Ireland = 6
  10. TIE: South Korea = 3 / Taiwan = 3

The 2019 Brussels Beer Challenge Winners

Category 1 — Dark Ale: Abbey / Trappist Style Dubbel

  • Gold: Viven Classic Bruin (Belgium) Owned by Brouwerij Viven
  • Silver: Ter Dolen Donker (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Ter Dolen
  • Bronze: Deduction (United States) Brewed by Taxman Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Duits & Lauret Biere de Garde Brune (Netherlands) Brewed by Brouwerij Duits & Lauret

Category 2 — Dark Ale: Brown Ale

  • Gold: Dark Coffee Break (Brazil) Brewed by Wäls Ambev
  • Silver: Joup (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Grain d’Orge
  • Bronze: Rur’ale Brune (France) Brewed by Brasserie Robiche

Category 3 — Dark Ale: Dark/Black IPA

  • Gold: Black Bucket (Ireland) Brewed by Kinnegar Brewing
  • Silver: Colorado Black Indica (Brazil) Brewed by Cervejaria Colorado
  • Bronze: Obaa Three (Belgium) Owned by Obaa Sprl

Category 4 — Dark Ale: Oud Bruin (Flanders Brown Ale)

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: Queue de Charrue vieille brune (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Vanuxeem
  • Bronze: Liefmans Goudenband (Belgium) Brewed by Duvel Moortgat

Category 5 — Dark Ale: Strong Dark Ale

  • Gold: Qualified (United States) Brewed by Taxman Brewing Company
  • Silver: De Poes Bruin (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij De Poes BVBA
  • Silver: St.Bernardus Abt 12 (Belgium) Brewed by St.Bernardus Brouwerij
  • Bronze: Gladium Symphony (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Artigianale della Presila di Verrino Anselmo & C. Sas

Category 6 — Flavoured Beer: Chocolate

  • Gold: Endless Love (South Korea) Brewed by Artmonster Brewery
  • Silver: Peanut Butter Hazelnut Caramel Chocolate Cake Stout (United States) Brewed by Hoppin’ Frog Brewing Co
  • Bronze: Bodebrown – Iron Maiden Trooper Brasil IPA (Brazil) Brewed by Cervejaria Bodebrown Ltda

Category 7 — Flavoured Beer: Coffee

  • Gold: Dadgum Coffee IPA (United States) Brewed by Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.
  • Silver: Goodieson Coffee Stout (Australia) Brewed by Goodieson Brewery
  • Bronze: Kaffee (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie La Souche
  • Bronze: Panda Nero (Ireland) Brewed by Brú Brewery

Category 8 — Flavoured Beer: Field Beer

  • Gold: No Award
  • Silver: Colorado Double Brown Coconut (Brazil) Brewed by Cervejaria Colorado
  • Bronze: La Diablesse (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie du Renard

Category 9 — Flavoured Beer: Fruit Beer

  • Gold: Daobrew Free-fall Litchi Gose (China) Brewed by Chengdu Fengshou Craft Beer Company, Ltd
  • Silver: Cranbic (United States) Brewed by New Glarus Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Markens Grøde – Farmer´s Reserve (Norway) Brewed by Lindheim Ølkompani

Category 10 — Flavoured Beer: Herb & Spice

  • Gold: Rumpy (United States) Brewed by Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.
  • Silver: SpontanBasil (Belgium) Brewed by Lindemans Brewery
  • Bronze: GingerGueuze (Belgium) Brewed by Lindemans Brewery
  • Bronze: Straf Gouden Boelsbier (Belgium) Owned by Bieren Boels

Category 11 — Flavoured Beer: Honey Beer

  • Gold: Bee Bock (Italy) Brewed by Ibeer
  • Silver: Piersech Honey Saison (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Gardena SRL
  • Bronze: Bière de Miel (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Dupont
  • Bronze: Wallabierke (Belgium) Owned by Wallabieke

Category 12 — Flavoured Beer: Old Style Fruit-Lambic

  • Gold: Kriek Mariage Parfait (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Boon
  • Silver: Oude Kriek Oud Beersel (Belgium) Brewed by Oud Beersel BVBA
  • Silver: Oude Riesling Tilquin à l’ancienne (Belgium) Brewed by Gueuzerie Tilquin S.A.
  • Bronze: Kriek (Belgium) Brewed by Hof ten Dormaal
  • Bronze: Schaarbeekse Oude Kriek Oud Beersel (Belgium) Brewed by Oud Beersel BVBA

Category 13 — Flavoured Beer: Russian Imperial Stout Barrel Or Oaked Aged

  • Gold: Huge Arker (United States) Brewed by Anderson Valley Brewing
  • Silver: Tiki Tiki (United States) Brewed by Veza Sur Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Parabola (United States) Brewed by Firestone

Category 14 — Flavoured Beer: Smoked Beer

  • Gold: Friend or Foe? (Poland) Owned by Browar Rockmill Sp. Z O.O.
  • Silver: Buckskin Rauchbier (Taiwan) Brewed by Buckskin, King Car Group
  • Bronze: Duits & Lauret Houtgerijpte Rook Dubbelbock (Netherlands) Brewed by Brouwerij Duits & Lauret
  • Bronze: Rauch Marzen (South Korea) Brewed by Goose Island Brewhouse Seoul

Category 15 — Flavoured Beer: Sweet/Milk Stout

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: No award.
  • Bronze: Film G Milk Stout (China) Brewed by 18 Brewery

Category 16 — Flavoured Beer: Wood/Barrel Aged (Less Than 10% ABV)

  • Gold: Dama Wood Selection Imperial Brown Porter (Brazil) Brewed by Renato Bazzo
  • Silver: Rust – Farmer’s Reseve (Norway) Brewed by Lindheim Ølkompani
  • Bronze: Podere La Berta – Vècc Barrel Aged (Italy) Brewed by Felsina S.p.a.

Category 17 — Flavoured Beer: Wood/Barrel Aged Higher Than 10% ABV)

  • Gold: Bush de Nuits (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Dubuisson
  • Gold: Peak Triple Rum Barrel Aged (Belgium) Brewed by Belgium Peak Beer S.A
  • Silver: La Curita Imperial (United States) Brewed by Veza Sur Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Grande Réserve Fermentée en Barriques – Edition Armagnac (Belgium) Brewed by Bières de Chimay

Category 18 — Lager: American-Style Pilsner

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: Dama Pilsen (Brazil) Brewed by Renato Bazzo
    Bronze: Firestone Lager (United States) Brewed by Firestone Walker

Category 19 — Lager: Bohemian-Style Pilsner

Gold: Pils (Italy) Brewed by Qubeer
Silver: Mama’s Little Yella Pils (United States) Brewed by Oskar Blues Brewery
Bronze: Kingpin Pils (Poland) Owned by Browar Kingpin Sp. z.o.o.

Category 20 — Lager: Dark/Dunkel (Including Schwarzbier)

  • Gold: Marilune Moonroe (France) Brewed by Brasserie de la Pleine Lune
  • Silver: Eastside Dark (United States) Brewed by Lakefront Brewery
  • Bronze: Slow Chill Dunkel Lager (United States) Brewed by Oskar Blues Brewery

Category 21 — Lager: German-Style Dunkel Bock/Doppelbock

  • Gold: Brand Dubbelbock (Netherlands) Brewed by Heineken
  • Silver: Weyermann® Bamberger Hofbräu® Exquisator (Germany) Brewed by Constantin Förtner
  • Bronze: Dubec (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Via Priula di San Pellegrino

Category 22 — Lager: German-Style Helles- / MaiBock / Doppelbock

  • Gold: Maestra Doble Lúpulo (Spain) Brewed by Mahou San Miguel
  • Silver: Alfa Krachtig Dort (Netherlands) Brewed by Meens Bierbrouwerij B.V. NL
  • Bronze: Buckskin Heller Bock (Taiwan) Brewed by Buckskin, King Car Group

Category 23 — Lager: German-Style Märzen

  • Gold: Pietra (France) Brewed by Brasserie Pietra
    Silver: Ketterer Edel (Germany) Brewed by Familienbrauerei M. Ketterer GmbH & Co. KG
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 24 — Lager: German-Style Pilsner

  • Gold: Pagoda Hill Pilsner (China) Owned by Blue Marlin Brewing Co.
  • Silver: Pils2 (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Otus Srl
  • Bronze: AntiKorpo Brewing – Grommet (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Cittavecchia Soc. Agr. a r.l.
  • Bronze: Ketterer Zwickel-pils (Germany) Brewed by Familienbrauerei M. Ketterer GmbH & Co. KG

Category 25 — Lager: Helles

  • Gold: Waldhaus Hell (Germany) Brewed by Privatbrauerei Waldhaus Joh. Schmid GmbH
  • Silver: B5 (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Otus Srl
  • Bronze: Bayreuther Hell (Germany) Brewed by Bayreuther Bierbrauerei AG

Category 26 — Lager: Hoppy Lager

  • Gold: Dama American Lager (Brazil) Brewed by Renato Bazzo
  • Silver: American Jasper (Italy) Brewed by Soc.Coop. La Piazza
  • Bronze: American Magut (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Lambrate
  • Bronze: Pils 13 – White label (Belgium) Owned by The Ministry of Belgian Beer

Category 27 — Lager: International Style Pilsner

  • Gold: Colorado Ribeirão Lager (Brazil) Brewed by Cervejaria Colorado
  • Silver: Alfa Edel Pils (Netherlands) Brewed by Meens Bierbrouwerij B.V. NL
  • Bronze: Estrella Damm (Spain) Brewed by S.A.Damm
  • Bronze: Primus (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Haacht

Category 28 — Lager: Light Lager

  • Gold: DL (Ireland) Brewed by Kinnegar Brewing
  • Silver: Brahma Duplo Malte (Brazil) Brewed by Cervejaria Ambev
  • Bronze: Bohemia Puro Malte (Brazil) Brewed by Cervejaria Ambev
  • Bronze: Brahma Chopp (Brazil) Brewed by Cervejaria Ambev

Category 29 — Lager: Vienna Lager

  • Gold: Vienna Festbier (United States) Brewed by Quarter Celtic Brewpub
    Silver: No award.
  • Bronze: Gangnam Style (South Korea) Brewed by Artmonster Brewery

Category 30 — Pale&Amber Ale: (Belgian Style) Tripel

  • Gold: Paix Dieu (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Caulier SPRL
    Gold: Tripel LeFort (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Omer Vander Ghinste
    Silver: Kompel L’or Noir (Belgium) Owned by Brouwerij Kompel
    Silver: Tongerlo Tripel (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Haacht
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 31 — Pale&Amber Ale: Abbey / Trappist Style Blond

  • Gold: Ter Dolen Blond (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Ter Dolen
  • Silver: Lamme Goedzak (Belgium) Brewed by Scheldebrouwerij BVBA
  • Bronze: Herkenrode Cister (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Cornelissen
  • Bronze: Malheur 8 (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Malheur

Category 32 — Pale&Amber Ale: Amber

  • Gold: La Bonne Aventure (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie Pit Caribou
  • Silver: La Rousse du Mont Blanc (France) Brewed by Brasserie du Mont Blanc
  • Bronze: Donna di Cuori (Italy) Brewed by Ibeer

Category 33 — Pale&Amber Ale: American IPA (Higher Than 6.5 ABV)

  • Gold: Born and Raised (United States) Brewed by No-Li Brewhouse
  • Gold: California West Coast IPA (Italy) Brewed by Mastri Birrai Umbri Società Agricola
  • Silver: Revision IPA (United States) Brewed by Revision Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Missile (United States) Brewed by Champion Brewing Company

Category 34 — Pale&Amber Ale: American IPA (Less Than 6.5 ABV)

  • Gold: Bird of Prey (Netherlands) Brewed by Uiltje Brewing Company
  • Silver: So Hoppy! (Belgium) Brewed by Dum’s Brew
  • Bronze: Jopen Hop Zij Met Ons (Netherlands) Brewed by Jopen BV
  • Bronze: La Conquereor (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie Pit Caribou

Category 35 — Pale&Amber Ale: American Pale Ale

  • Gold: Dikke Lul 3 Bier (Netherlands) Brewed by Uiltje Brewing
  • Silver: Aero (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio della Granda
  • Silver: Day Job Pale Ale (United States) Brewed by Three Weavers Brewing, Co.
  • Bronze: Tiny Gangsta (China) Owned by Crafters Brewing Co.

Category 36 — Pale&Amber Ale: Belgian Style IPA

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: Lumunus (Netherlands) Brewed by Stadsbrouwerij 013
    Bronze: Jack’s Precious IPA (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij The Musketeers
    Bronze: Viven Master IPA (Belgium) Owned by Brouwerij Viven

Category 37 — Pale&Amber Ale: Best Bitter

  • Gold: Roger Bitter (Italy) Brewed by Birra 100Venti
  • Silver: La Galipette (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Le Fou du Roi – E.L.T sprl
  • Bronze: Aubel Pure (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Grain d’Orge

Category 38 — Pale&Amber Ale: Bières De Garde Ambrée

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: Gare de Roubaix (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Mezzavia
    Bronze: PAPITOU (Belgium) Owned by MV²O – LPDLT BV.
    Bronze: St Idesbald Rousse (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij L. Huyghe

Category 39 — Pale&Amber Ale: Bitter

  • Gold: Doom Bar (United Kingdom) Owned by Sharps Brewery
  • Silver: Bertinchamps Légère (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie de Bertinchamps
  • Bronze: Santé Maris Otter (Belgium) Owned by Sante Beer

Category 40 — Pale&Amber Ale: Double Saison

  • Gold: Moinette Blonde (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Dupont
  • Silver: Tank 7 (United States) Brewed by Boulevard Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Saison Dupont Dry Hop (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Dupont
(Photo by Bart Van der Perre)

Category 41 — Pale&Amber Ale: English IPA

  • Gold: SUPER 8 IPA (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Haacht
  • Silver: NONNE IPA (France) Brewed by Les Brasseurs Savoyards
  • Bronze: Ninkasi French IPA (France) Brewed by Ninkasi Fabriques

Category 42 — Pale&Amber Ale: Golden Ale

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: Wilderen Goud (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij & Distilleerderij Wilderen
    Bronze: St-Feuillien Five (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie St-Feuillien
    Bronze: Troubadour Blond (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij The Musketeers

Category 43 — Pale&Amber Ale: Imperial IPA

  • Gold: Thumper (Ireland) Brewed by Kinnegar Brewing
  • Silver: Azz (Italy) Brewed by Birra Gaia SrL
  • Bronze: Jopen Heavy Cross (Netherlands) Brewed by Jopen BV

Category 44 — Pale&Amber Ale: Kölsch

  • Gold: La Blonde du Pêcheur (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie Pit Caribou
  • Silver: No award.
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 45 — Pale&Amber Ale: Light Bitter Blond/Golden Ale

  • Gold: Ename Pater (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Roman
  • Silver: Fientje (Belgium) Owned by Huisbrouwerij Fienneke- Ellen Winters
  • Bronze: 8 File (Italy) Brewed by La Collina Trattoria & Birrificio Artigianale
  • Bronze: Super Sanglier (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Minne

Category 46 — Pale&Amber Ale: Modern Saison

  • Gold: Funky Brett (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Lefebvre
  • Silver: Blue Butterfly (United States) Brewed by Deschutes Brewery
  • Bronze: 28 Saison (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie 28

Category 47 — Pale&Amber Ale: New England IPA

  • Gold: Loup des Saules (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie La Souche
  • Silver: Disco Ninja (United States) Brewed by Revision Brewing
  • Bronze: Juice Punch V10 (Netherlands) Brewed by Brouwerij Frontaal
  • Bronze: Master Gao Birdland (China) Brewed by Master Gao Brewing Co. of Nanjing

Category 48 — Pale&Amber Ale: Pacific IPA

  • Gold: Crikey IPA (United States) Brewed by Reuben’s Brews
  • Silver: The Pupil (United States) Brewed by Societe Brewing Company
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 49 — Pale&Amber Ale: Session IPA

  • Gold: Jackie Dunn (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie La Souche
  • Silver: La Cristal IPA (France) Brewed by Brasserie du Mont Blanc
  • Bronze: Canaia (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Bradipongo S.r.l.
  • Bronze: Perroquet IPA (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie Le Trou du diable

Category 50 — Pale&Amber Ale: Strong Amber

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: Pauwel Kwak (Belgium) Brewed by n.v. Brouwerij Bosteels Brasserie s.a.
    Bronze: Millican Extra (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Mezzopasso

Category 51 — Pale&Amber Ale: Strong Blonde

  • Gold: Hapkin (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Alken-Maes
  • Silver: Duvel Tripel Hop Citra (Belgium) Brewed by Duvel Moortgat
  • Bronze: Bon Secours Blonde (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Caulier

Category 52 — Pale&Amber Ale: Strong/Extra Special Bitter

  • Gold: Gatsby (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio La Villana – Centoundici srl
  • Silver: Royal Bitter (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Legnone
  • Bronze: El Dorado (Italy) Brewed by Ibeer

Category 53 — Pale&Amber Ale: Traditional Saison

  • Gold: Saison Dupont Bio (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Dupont
  • Silver: Saison Dupont (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Dupont
  • Bronze: Biolégère (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Dupont

Category 54 — Red Ale: American Red Ale

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: No award.
  • Bronze: Apache (Italy) Brewed by Birra 100Venti
    Bronze: Scarlet Pimpernel (Ireland) Brewed by Killarney Brewing Company

Category 55 — Red Ale: Irish Red Ale

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: Brú Red Ale (Ireland) Brewed by Brú Brewery
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 56 — Red Ale: Oud Rood (Flanders Red Ale)

  • Gold: No award.
    Silver: Tsai’s Flanders Red Ale (Taiwan) Brewed by Tsai’s Actual Brewing Co., Ltd.
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 57 — Speciality Beer: Alcohol-Free

  • Gold: Ramon (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Roman
  • Silver: Amstel 0.0 (Netherlands) Brewed by Heineken
  • Bronze: Affligem 0.0% (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Alken-Maes

Category 58 — Speciality Beer: Barley Wine

  • Gold: Barley Wine Brune 2017 (France) Brewed by Cap d’Ona
  • Silver: Base Bohemia Reserva (Brazil) Brewed by Cervejaria Bohemia
  • Bronze: Troost Barleywine (Netherlands) Brewed by Brouwerij Troost

Category 59 — Speciality Beer: Brut Beer

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: Kessbier Belgian Mango Brut (Brazil) Brewed by Kessbier Cervejaria
    Bronze: Asparagus (Netherlands) Owned by Brouwerij Hommeles

Category 60 — Speciality Beer: Gluten Free

  • Gold: Brunehaut Triple (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie de Brunehaut
  • Silver: Biosfera (Italy) Brewed by Il Mastio ssa
  • Bronze: Blonde Bio Sans Gluten (France) Brewed by Cap d’Ona
  • Bronze: Grisette Blonde Bio gluten free (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie St-Feuillien

Category 61 — Speciality Beer: Low-Alcohol

  • Gold: BIIR – Lots off cry(o)hops almost no alcohol (Belgium) Owned by Biir Noble Brew Trading
  • Silver: Bakalár nealko za studena Chmelený (Czech Republic) Brewed by Tradicní Pivovar v Rakovníku, a.s.
  • Bronze: Maisel & Friends Alkoholfrei (Germany) Brewed by Brauerei Gebr. Maisel

Category 62 — Speciality Beer: Old Style Gueuze-Lambic

  • Gold: Oude Geuze Oud Beersel (Belgium) Brewed by Oud Beersel BVBA
  • Silver: Oude Geuze Vandervelden (Belgium) Brewed by Oud Beersel BVBA
  • Silver: Oude Gueuze Cuvée René (Belgium) Brewed by Lindemans Brewery
  • Bronze: Feral One (United States) Brewed by Firestone Walker

Category 63 — Speciality Beer: Other Sour Ale

  • Gold: Kriek Whiskey BA (Belgium) Brewed by Hof ten Dormaal
  • Silver: Praia do Meio (Brazil) Owned by Cervejaria Cozalinda
  • Bronze: Flower Power (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Angerik
  • Bronze: Summer Sour (United States) Brewed by New Glarus Brewing

Category 64 — Speciality Beer: Speciality Beer (Higher Than 7 ABV)

  • Gold: Apfelstrudel Doppelbock (Netherlands) Brewed by Uiltje Brewing Company
  • Silver: Tiramisù Imperial Stout (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Lambrate
  • Bronze: Beer Van Brugge Single Malt Whiskey Infused (Belgium) Brewed by Beer Van Brugge
  • Bronze: Dama Oatmeal Golden Coffee Ale (Brazil) Brewed by Renato Bazzo

Category 65 — Speciality Beer: Speciality Beer (Less Than 7 ABV)

  • Gold: Gelders Graan Geluk (Netherlands) Owned by GraanGeluk
  • Silver: La Trappe Puur (Netherlands) Brewed by Bierbrouwerij de Koningshoeven B.V.
  • Silver: Timmermans Lambicus Faro (Belgium) Brewed by Timmermans NV
  • Bronze: The Harlot (United States) Brewed by Societe Brewing Company

Category 66 — Speciality Beer: Speciality Beer: Italian Style Grape Ale

  • Gold: L’Equilibrista (Italy) Brewed by Birra del Borgo Srl
  • Silver: Bienne (Belgium) Owned by Aligenti BV
  • Bronze: Fèlsina Birrificio – White IGA (Italy) Brewed by Felsina S.p.a.

Category 67 — Speciality Beer: Winter Ales

  • Gold: Pietra Brassin d’Hiver (France) Brewed by Brasserie Pietra
  • Silver: Gouden Carolus Christmas (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Het Anker
  • Bronze: Evil Santa (United States) Brewed by The Virginia Beer Co.

Category 68 — Stout/ Porter: American Stout

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: No award.
  • Bronze: All Black (Netherlands) Owned by Stanislaus Brewskovitch BV

Category 69 — Stout/ Porter: Baltic Porter

  • Gold: Teodorico (Italy) Brewed by Birra Mastino
  • Silver: No award.
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 70 — Stout/ Porter: Dry Stout

  • Gold: Le Sang d’Encre (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie Le Trou du diable
  • Silver: Cheerday Stout (China) Brewed by Hangzhou Cheerday Brewery Co., Ltd.
  • Bronze: Mac Lomas Stout (United States) Brewed by Quarter Celtic Brewpub

Category 71 — Stout/ Porter: Oatmeal Stout

  • Gold: Panty (Netherlands) Brewed by Oedipus Brewing
  • Silver: No award.
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 72 — Stout/ Porter: Porter

  • Gold: La Gaspésienne #13 (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie Pit Caribou
    Silver: La Machurée (France) Brewed by SAS Brasserie Stéphanoise
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 73 — Stout/ Porter: Russian Imperial Stout

  • Gold: Dangerous (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio della Granda
  • Gold: Wrecking Ball (United States) Brewed by No-Li Brewhouse
  • Silver: B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal Imperial Stout (United States) Brewed by Hoppin’ Frog Brewing Co
  • Silver: Kollusion (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Maenhout
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 74 — Stout/ Porter: Stout Export

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: van Vollenhoven Extra Stout (Netherlands) Brewed by Brouwerij Poesiat & Kater
    Bronze: Dama Stout (Brazil) Brewed by Renato Bazzo

Category 75 — Wheat: Dubbel Wit/Imperial White

  • Gold: Bogaerden Dubbel Tarwe Tripel (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Sako
  • Gold: Jopen Witte Kerst (Netherlands)Brewed by Jopen BV
  • Bronze: Grosse Bertha (Belgium) Owned by Brussels Beer Project

Category 76 — Wheat: Dunkel Weizen(Doppel)Bock

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: TAP6 Aventinus (Germany) Brewed by Schneider Weisse G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH
    Bronze: Weizenbock (Netherlands) Brewed by Davo Bieren Bv

Category 77 — Wheat: Gose

  • Gold: La Gose IPA du Barachois (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie Pit Caribou
    Silver: No award.
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 78 — Wheat: Weizen

  • Gold: TAP7 Original (Germany) Brewed by Schneider Weisse G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH
  • Silver: Primátor Weizen (Czech Republic) Brewed by Primátor A.s.
  • Bronze: Beluga Beer (China) Brewed by Hunan Beluga Beer Co. , Ltd
  • Bronze: Ketterer Ur-Weisse hell (Germany) Brewed by Familienbrauerei M. Ketterer GmbH & Co. KG

Category 79 — Wheat: White IPA/Hoppy Weizen

  • Gold: Blitz (Netherlands) Owned by Brouwerij Bliksem
  • Silver: No award.
    Bronze: Daobrew CDC Chengmsterdam White IPA (China) Brewed by Chengdu Fengshou Craft Beer Company, Ltd
    Bronze: Pearl of the Orient (China) Brewed by 18 Brewery

Category 80 — Wheat: Witbier

  • Gold: Hoegaarden White (Belgium) Brewed by Hoegaarden AB-Inbev
  • Silver: Blanche de Namur (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie du Bocq
  • Bronze: Affligem Belgisch Wit (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Alken-Maes
  • Bronze: La Blanche du Mont Blanc (France) Brewed by Brasserie du Mont Blanc
Tasting Director Luc De Raedemaeker (photo by Bart Van der Perre)

Historic Beer Birthday: Florentinus De Boeck

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Today is the birthday of Florentinus De Boeck (November 18, 1826-1892). He was a well-known organist and orchestra conductor, and the father of famed Belgian composer August De Boeck. He was also a brewer who founded the Brouwerij Martinas in 1871. It was later known as the Brouwerij Ginder-Ale. In 1888, it was taken over by Corneel van Ginderachter, whose family managed the brewery into the 1970s, before a series of mergers and acquisitions left it in the hands of AB-InBev. Unfortunately, there’s not much information I could find about Florentinus, especially since he only ran the brewery for 17 years.

The Battle of Gravensteen Castle

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One of the more majestic castles in Belgium is The Gravensteen (which in Dutch means the “Castle of the Counts”). It is a medieval castle built in 1180 and located in Ghent, East Flanders in Belgium. It was only occupied by anyone other than the owners one time, on November 16, 1949, when 138 students from the University of Ghent took over the castle to protest an increase in the price of beer.

Onlookers filled the streets outside the castle in downtown Ghent.

Here is a description of the day’s events from the University of Ghent website, as translated by Google:

On November 16, 1949, 138 students (including one girl) entrenched themselves in the Gravensteen in Ghent. The battlements are adorned with playful student slogans, while the police and fire brigade are treated to overripe fruit and smoke bombs. The student-like violence can only be contained with the greatest difficulty by the police. The student joke is front-page news in the international press. 

Firemen turned their hoses on the students.

In addition to protesting the new beer tax which caused the price to go up, the students also wanted to abolish the use of white helmets by the police. This helmet was replaced by a blue kepi so that the police officers would be less distinguishable from postmen, among others. I don’t know why that was important to the students, but apparently, it was.

Eventually, the police and fire brigade managed to charge the students, but despite this, the students still essentially won the day. Public opinion was on the side of the students and no students were prosecuted and they essentially got what they asked for. To this day, each year it’s commemorated with a parade and a cantus song; and is considered, by the city of Ghent at least, the greatest student prank in its history.

A caricature of the day’s events from shortly after it took place.

The song they sing every year is entitled, of course, “The Battle of the Gravensteen,” and is based on a poem by Flemish teacher and folk poet Eugeen De Ridder. Belgian composer and organist Armand Preud’homme wrote the music for it. Below are the lyrics:

1. In Ghent, the old city,
there was the Gravensteen
For centuries as forgotten,
Abandoned and alone.
Until suddenly student times,
Lust for fun and laughter,
With trickery to renovate the castle,
Without a blow or a blow.

Sprayers of Flanders!
Ghent roars with pleasure:
“‘t Gravenkasteel occupied by students!”
They’re in it! who gets z’er out.
They fear neither club nor water nor spray!
Besiegers if you want to attack.
Watch out, watch out, watch out, watch out!
Ulenspiegel, Ulenspiegel leads them!

2. ‘t Pandoerheir, sealike, Rolls
ladders by the wall,
And takes with water lances,
The ruin under fire.
But apples like grenades,
Explode on the ground,
And the slimey scraps sow, crushing,
Confusion all around.

3. The Student’s Guild, doggedly
Covered with dust and ashes,
Faded its last apple,
His last sod of grass.
Then their battle was over …
But, through the centuries,
Vlaadren’s laughter will commemorate,
The Battle of ‘t Gravensteen!

The Gravensteen Castle today.

Historic Beer Birthday: Petrus Van Roy

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Today is the birthday of Petrus Van Roy (November 1, 1830-December 27, 1908). He was born in Denderbelle, a small village in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, and in 1866 he founded the Brouwerij Van Roy on his farm. It was later known as the Brouwerij Het Anker Wieze.

Petrus Van Roy and his family.

After Petrus dies, the brewery “was continued from 1907 by his son Raymond, who later became mayor in Wieze and died in 1951. Raymond had further expanded the brewery, but during World War I all the necessary copper was stolen.

During the Second World War, the beer was contract brewed and in 1952, Petrus’ grandsons Jan and Willy Van Roy launched the Wieze Pils.

From 1956 to 1986, the Van Roy Brewery organized the Wieze Oktoberfeesten, a sixteen-day party based on the German model.

The Van Roy Brewery, which once employed 370 employees, went bankrupt for the first time in 1994. A new company was founded and the brewery continued under the name Wieze Het Anker and employed 50 employees. Nevertheless, production fell from 120,000 hectoliters to 30,000 hectoliters. This was partly due to the loss of a number of contracts with supermarkets. In 1997, the brewery was declared bankrupt again.

In 1999, the developer Matexi Group bought the buildings and land. In 2001 the buildings were demolished. In 2008 it was decided to divide the vacant land into 58 building lots, after the site had been converted into a residential zone.

Now there is a new Brouwerij Wieze located in Wieze which has taken over the old logo as well as the registered trademarks for the Benelux, which appears to have been started by members of the Van Roy family.

Historic Beer Birthday: Ferdinand Rodenbach

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Today is the birthday of Ferdinand Rodenbach (November 1, 1714-November, 17 1783). He was a military surgeon and a co-founder of Brouwerij Rodenbach, along with his brothers. His younger brother Pedro Rodenbach was a military officer and fought in the Battle of Waterloo. When he left the army in 1818, he married a brewer’s daughter, Regina Wauters, who was from Mechelen in Belgium. After Pedro’s father died, he and his brothers, Alexander, Ferdinand and Constantijn, bought a brewery in Roeselare, which is where Ferdinand had settled after being held as a prisoner of war in France. When their agreed-upon partnership ended after fifteen years, Pedro and Regina bought them out. It was originally called Brasserie et Malterie Saint-Georges, but later became known as Brouwerij Rodenbach.

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Present at the reveling of the statue of Albrecht Rodenbach in Roeselaere. Formerly Hugo Verriest, Ferdinand Rodenbach and his children, René de Clercq, Prof. Gustaf Verriest and others.

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And this is the history currently on the brewery website:

Ferdinand RODENBACH was a soldier, civilian physician and burgher. He was married to Johanna VANDENBOSSCHE and they had 4 children. The RODENBACH family coat of arms indicates its noble origins, originating from Odenwald in HESSEN. The RODENBACHs of Roeselare originate from the town of ANDERNACH AM RHEIN. After being a French prisoner of war in Lille, Ferdinand left the Austrian army at the age of 35 and settled in Roeselare. He is known to have published several medical volumes in German.

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Historic Beer Birthday: Frantz Brogniez

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houston-ice grand-prize
Today is the birthday of Frantz Brogniez (October 26, 1860-October 9, 1935). He was born in Hainaut, Belgium. His father was also a brewmaster and a 25 year member of the Belgian senate in Brussels. He also trained as a brewer at Louvain, and at his first brewing job in Lichterveld in 1882, he created Belgium’s first “blond” beer. Moving to the United States in 1896, he founded the The Belgian Brewery in Detroit Michigan, which was later renamed the Tivoli Brewery. He then moved to Terre Haute, Indiana to found the Peoples Brewery there. Moving to Houston in 1912, he became the brewmaster of the Houston Ice and Brewing Co. Shortly thereafter, at the International Exposition at Ghent, Belgium one of the beers he created in Houston, Southern Select, won the Grand Prize (out of 4,096 beers entered). After that, the brewery became the south’s biggest brewery, but prohibition put Brogniez out of a job. He was also a violin player and co-founded the Houston Symphony. During prohibition, he developed a honey-based ice cream called “Honey Boy Ice Cream,” and also did some brewing in Juarez, Mexico. After prohibition ended, Howard Hughes (yes, that one) persuaded Brogniez to be the brewmaster of his new Gulf Brewing Company in Houston, and he brought his recipe for Southern Select with him, and renamed it “Grand Prize Beer.” He ran Hughes’ brewery until he died in 1935, and afterwards his son Frank took his place at Gulf Brewing. Gulf was acquired by Hamm’s in 1953.

brewmaster

Here’s a biography from Find-a-Grave:

Frantz H. Brogniez was born at the family estate of Redemont, Haine – St. Paul, Belgium on October 26, 1860. He was an accomplished musician, chemist and Brewmaster. He married three times. Frantz first married Cornelie van der Hulst who bore him three children, two girls and a boy, I don’t know the girl’s names, the boy was Willie who died at a young age. They separated for unknown reasons. He then met Alida Mathilde Grymonprez, fell in love and in 1896 moved to the US for a fresh start. Alida bore him two children. They were Frantz (Frank) Philippe and Alida Mathilde. Alida fell sick and passed in 1903. Agreeing to Alida’s dying wishes, Frantz married Alida’s sister Alice Albertine Grymonprez who bore him two sons. They were Fernand Jules and Raymond Hector. Alice was 26 years his junior. Both Alida and Alice are interred here at Forest Park Cemetery with Frantz. Frantz passed away on October 11th 1935, just shy of 75 years, 2 years after Prohibition ended.

Some of Frantz’s accomplishments include winning the world’s Grand Prize for beer while Brewmaster at Houston Ice and Brewing’s Magnolia Brewery in 1913. Also in 1913, Frantz along with Miss Ima Hogg and Mrs. E. B. Parker formed the Houston Symphony. Lastly, Frantz was the original Brewmaster for Howard Hughes’ Gulf Brewery best known for its Grand Prize Beer.

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And here’s another short one from Houston Past:

Frantz Brogniez was the Belgian-born brewmaster who turned the Houston Ice and Brewing Company into the largest brewing company south of Milwaukee, and later operated Howard Hughes’ Houston-based Gulf Brewing Company. In 1913, while he was serving as brewmaster at Houston Ice and Brewing, Brogniez beat out 4,096 other brewers around the world to win the Grand Prize at the International Congress ofBrewers. The beer for which was honored was Houston Ice and Brewing’s most popular, Southern Select. During Prohibition, Brogniez moved to El Paso and worked with brewing interests in Juarez. At the end of Prohibition, Hughes coaxed Brogniez back to Houston to oversee the operations of Hughes’ Gulf Brewing Company, which produced Grand Prize beer. Brogniez’ son, Frank, operated the brewery after his father’s death.

Frantz-and-Frank
Frantz and his son Frank examining the brewery.

Frantz was born October 26, 1860, at Haine-Saint Paul, in Hainaut, Belgium. His father was a brewmaster and a 25 year member of the Belgian senate in Brussels.

Frantz was one of those rare very gifted and remarkably knowledgeable men, accomplished in bio-chemistry, engineering, music, and well versed in painting, sculpture and poetry. In 1881, Brogniez entered the University of Louvain and enrolled in “Special Sciences,” including engineering and biochemistry. He continued his studies at the Louis Pasteur Institute in France.

In 1882, Brogniez went to Lichterveld to work in a brewery. While there, he developed the first “blond” beer in Belgium.

He moved to Detroit Michigan in 1896 and established The Belgian Brewery. It was quickly renamed the Tivoli Brewery after he took on some investors. He befriended Henry Ford and often went riding with him. Frantz never learned how to drive.

He left Detroit in 1904 and moved to Terra Haute Indiana where he established the Peoples Brewery and supervised its design and construction. It grew to one of the largest in the nation at the time.

In 1912 he moved to Houston for the warmer climate for his chronically ill wife and became the brewmaster for Houston Ice and Brewing’s Magnolia Brewery. A year later they learned of the International Exposition at Ghent Belgium. The Exposition was held every couple of years and was a competition where beer from all over the world was put through a battery of tests. Frantz had some beer grabbed off the line and sent it with a friend that was traveling to Belgium. This particular year 4,096 beers were entered. Out of all these beers, Southern Select was the last one standing with 3 tests still to go. It won the Grand Prize. HI&B became the largest brewing company in the south. Frantz remained with HI&B until Prohibition ended his job.

Also in 1913, Frantz, Mrs. E. B. Parker and Miss Ima Hogg established the Houston Symphony. By this time he was a Mason and an Elk.

While WWI was going on around 1918, sugar was in short supply so Frantz was asked if he could develop a recipe for ice cream using something other than sugar for the sweetener. He developed what became Honey Boy Ice Cream made with honey. It was fairly popular. When WWI ended, the rights were sold to Reddig Ice. Honey Boy disappeared.

During Prohibition Frantz moved to El Paso Texas and brewed beer at Cerveseria Juarez in Juarez, Mexico. Some of these beers were award winners as well.

When it looked as if Prohibition was going to end in 1933, Frantz moved back to Houston where HI&B was trying to get back into the brewing business. It became obvious that HI&B had big plans and not much money. At the same time, Howard Hughes wanted to get into the brewing business thinking it would provide much needed jobs. Mr. Hughes enticed Frantz away from HI&B and formed Gulf Brewing. With little modification to an existing building they quickly installed a state of the art brewing facility of Frantz’s design. Grand Prize beer became a reality. It was named for the Grand Prize that Southern Select won. It was the same recipe as Southern Select. Grand Prize grew to be one of the south’s most popular beers.

Two years later at the age of 75, Frantz passed away in the arms of his son Frank with his family present.

frantz

Here’s a basic history of the Houston Ice and Brewing Co., which was also known as the Magnolia Brewery, from Houston Past:

The Magnolia Ballroom building on the Franklin Street side of Market Square (715 Franklin) was built in 1912, on the foundation of an older building (the Franklin Building), and once housed the taproom and executive offices for the Houston Ice and Brewing Co.’s Magnolia Brewery. The building was the first in Houston to have refrigerator-style air conditioning. In 2006, it became the first commercial building in Houston to receive the Houston Protected Landmark designation.

By 1915, the Houston Ice and Brewing Company encompassed more than 10 buildings on more than 20 acres located on both sides of Buffalo Bayou. In fact, the brewery even spanned the bayou for some period of time – the Louisiana Street bridge now crosses the bayou at the same location. To provide easier access across the bayou, the brewery built a 250-foot wood and concrete bridge stretching from the Franklin Street bridge toward the Milam Street bridge.

southern-select-sign

The Magnolia Brewery produced a number of signature brands of beer, including (it is reported) Magnolia, Richelieu, Hiawatha, Grand Prize, and Southern Select (the latter being the most famous). In 1913, brewmaster Frantz Brogniez was awarded Grand Prize at the last International Conference of Breweries for his Southern Select beer – beating out 4,096 competing brewers from around the world. In 1919, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the labeling on one of the Houston Ice and Brewing Company’s brands did not infringe upon a Schlitz trademark. (Having noted that the similarities in the two bottles were limited to their content and brown labels, the Court stated: “If there were deception it seems to us that it would arise from beer and brown color and that it could not be said that the configuration appreciably helped.”)

Magnolia-houston

The company’s decline began during Prohibition, when the Houston Ice and Brewing Company was forced to rely solely on its ice sales. Many of the brewery’s structures were then destroyed in the historic 1935 flood, which was later blamed on the Magnolia Brewery bridge. The brewery struggled to survive, but closed in 1950.

The Magnolia Ballroom is just one of two Houston Ice and Brewing Company buildings that remains standing. In 1969, a high-end restaurant called the Bismark was located on the second floor, and the Buffalo Bayou Flea Market operated out of the basement. The basement has since housed a variety of bars and clubs. The upstairs floors are currently used for special events – much of the ornate interior of the building has been preserved, and it is decorated with historic photos.

If you want to learn more about the Magnolia Brewery, check out Buffalo Bayou, Peachridge Glass, and the Magnolia Ballroom.

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And here’s some more about the Gulf Brewing Co., founded by Howard Hughes, also from Houston Past:

Howard Hughes’ connection with the Houston-based Hughes Tool Company is fairly well-known. It is less well-known that Hughes started a brewery in Houston, on the grounds of the Hughes Tool Company, called Gulf Brewing Company. Hughes opened the brewery at the end of Prohibition, and its profits helped the tool company survive the Depression.

Grand-Prize-Beer--Labels-Gulf-Brewing-Company

Gulf Brewing Company produced Grand Prize beer, which for a time was the best-selling beer in Texas. It has been reported that a beer called Grand Prize beer was also produced prior to Prohibition, by the Houston Ice and Brewing Company. While that may be accurate, any confusion is likely connected to the fact that Hughes’ Grand Prize brewery was operated by the man who served as brewmaster at Houston Ice and Brewing before Prohibition. In 1913, while he was brewmaster at the Houston Ice and Brewing Company, Belgian-Houstonian Frantz Brogniez was awarded Grand Prize at the last International Conference of Breweries for his Southern Select beer – beating out 4,096 competing brewers. Brogniez left Houston during Prohibition, but Hughes convinced him to return to serve as brewmaster for the Gulf Brewing Company. Brogniez’ son operated the brewery after his father’s death.

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Beer Birthday: Armand Debelder

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drie-fonteinen
Today is the 69th birthday of Armand Debelder, master blender and owner of Proef 3 Fonteinen — a.k.a. Drie Fonteinen — a lambic brewery and blendery making traditional geuze and kriek in Beersal, Belgium. According to their U.S. importer, Shelton Brothers:

Drie Fonteinen is the only remaining traditional geuze blender in Belgium, using only 100% spontaneously fermented lambik beer, aged in oak casks, with no artificial sweeteners or other additives. The blendery is connected to the very popular Drie Fonteinen Restaurant in Beersel, on the outskirts of Brussels. The proprietor, Armand Debelder, buys pure lambik from three breweries in Belgium, ages them in oak, and blends them, employing the skill, knowledge, and supreme passion for real geuze that his father handed down to him.

I had a chance to meet and talk with Armand a couple of times during Philly Beer Week a few years ago. And, of course, his beer is amazingly good. Join me in wishing Armand a very happy birthday.

Tom Peters, Frank Boon, Jean Van Roy, Fergie Carey and Armand Debelder
Tom Peters, Frank Boon, Jean Van Roy, Fergie Carey and Armand Debelder at a Lambic Beer Dinner held at Monk’s Cafe in Philadelphia earlier a couple of years ago.

Me and Armand Debelder
Armand and me at the Great Lambic Summit at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology & Anthropology on June 9, 2010.

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With Stephen Beaumont during a visit to the new brewery in 2016.

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Pouring us some beer during the same visit a couple of years ago.

Beer In Ads #3501: Pilsen De Haecht

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Saturday’s ad is for Pilsen de Haecht, from perhaps the 1950s. From the late 1800s until the 1970s, poster art really came into its own, and in Europe a lot of really cool posters, many of them for breweries, were produced. This poster was created for Brouwerij van Haecht, which I believe was located somewhere in the Netherlands. To confuse matters, there’s also a Brasserie de Haacht in Belgium, and Google appears to keep confusing the two in searches with the “aa” and “ae” seemingly interchangeable, and yet they seem to be different breweries. And on top of that, the Belgian brewery Haacht seems to sometimes use the spelling Haecht, despite being from the town of Haacht, which is located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. So needless to say, I’m just not sure. On this sign, it’s referred to as “Brasserie de Haecht.” I also don’t know who the artist is that created this sign.

Beer In Ads #3500: Bieren Van Haecht

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Friday’s ad is for Bieren van Haecht, from perhaps the 1950s. From the late 1800s until the 1970s, poster art really came into its own, and in Europe a lot of really cool posters, many of them for breweries, were produced. This poster was created for Brouwerij van Haecht, which I believe was located somewhere in the Netherlands. To confuse matters, there’s also a Brasserie de Haacht in Belgium, and Google appears to keep confusing the two in searches with the “aa” and “ae” seemingly interchangeable, and yet they seem to be different breweries. And on top of that, the Belgian brewery Haacht seems to sometimes use the spelling Haecht, despite being from the town of Haacht, which is located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. So needless to say, I’m just not sure. On this sign, it’s referred to as both “Brasserie de Haecht” and “Bieren van Haecht.” I also don’t know who the artist is that created this sign.

Beer In Ads #3499: Haecht Table Beer

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Thursday’s ad is for Haecht bieres de table, from perhaps the 1950s. From the late 1800s until the 1970s, poster art really came into its own, and in Europe a lot of really cool posters, many of them for breweries, were produced. This poster was created for Brouwerij van Haecht, which I believe was located somewhere in the Netherlands. To confuse matters, there’s also a Brasserie de Haacht in Belgium, and Google appears to keep confusing the two in searches with the “aa” and “ae” seemingly interchangeable, and yet they seem to be different breweries. And on top of that, the Belgian brewery Haacht seems to sometimes use the spelling Haecht, despite being from the town of Haacht, which is located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. So needless to say, I’m just not sure. I also don’t know who the artist is that created this sign.